Damascus hosts symposium on drug combating, money laundry

Syrian Minister of the Interior Muhammad Harba on Monday opened a national judicial symposium on combating drugs and money laundering.

The symposium is organized by the Syrian Ministry of the Interior in collaboration with the Justice Ministry and the UN program for drug combating.

In an inaugural speech Harba said, "Syria, as it is known to everyone, is absolutely free from drug plantation, production or industry" adding that the question of combating drugs has received great attention from the Syrian political leadership, and that a national committee for combating drugs was formed chaired by the minister of the interior.

The Syrian minister asserted that the release of law no. 2 of 1993 has considerably contributed to deterring drug merchants, as punishment may reach execution. He added that the law considers those who take drugs as sick people who must be looked after and treated.

He continued that the directorate for combating drugs has played an effective role in curbing the crossing of drugs through Syria.

Meanwhile, the representative of the executive director of the UN program for combating drugs made a speech in which he said the symposium embodies all forms of cooperation with UNPDC (UN program for drug combating). He expressed thanks to Syria for hosting this symposium, which provides strong evidence of Syria's cooperation with the international organization in combating drugs.

Later on, the participants in the symposium started discussions of work papers, including Syrian work papers about Syria's national strategy on combating of drugs, drugs law no. 2 of 1993, and the use of modern technology in this regard.